The 15th Annual Vietnamese New Year
(Tết Festival) 2007
February 3 and 4, 2007
Around late January to early February every year, the
Vietnamese people celebrate the beginning
of the Lunar New
Year. This celebration is known as Tet, and many traditions
follow. Wearing red symbolized good luck and money is given in
small red envelopes (also known as li xi). Homes
are decorated
with yellow spring blossoms and are also cleaned to sweep out
bad fortune.
Many Vietnamese families are spread out across Central
Florida. Tet, as celebrated in Vietnam,
allows friends and families
to greet one another as soon as they walk out of their homes.
Over here in the United States, celebrations usually take place in
a centralized location
where the Vietnamese community usually
gathers.
Hundreds from Central Florida’s Vietnamese community
as well as others fl ocked to the yearly
Tet Festival held at the
Central Florida Fairgrounds. During the 17th and 18th of
February, local residents were able to experience a part of the
Lunar New Year. Festivities included carnival prize games for the
kids, as well as the Vietnamese beauty pageant.
Young women between the ages of 16-24 were able to
compete against one another for the title
of Miss Vietnamese
Florida. The traditional Vietnamese dress, which is called the “ao
dai”, was seen on all the contestants. The ao dai each contestant
wore were beautifully presented,
and varied in style and color.
Third place went to Kim Tran,
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who received a tiara, trophy,
and
500 dollars. Quynh Nguyen made second place,
giving her a
tiara, trophy, and 1000 dollars.
First place winner Tran Anh Thu
earned
the crown and a $2000 cash prize.
Participant Lisa Le
won Miss Congeniality, and
June Nguyen was Miss Photogenic.
Some of the traditional Vietnamese dishes were available for
purchase during the
festival,
and a few of the local restaurants
were also there to give other food choices for those
who attended
the festival.
Tet is one of the most celebrated times in Vietnam, bringing
families and friends together.
Having Tet Festivals here give the
whole Vietnamese community yet another reason to rejoice
and
unite, regardless of religion or background.
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